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PODCAST

Public Defenseless

Anyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system is perpetuating cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people simply trying to get through another day. Public Defenseless explores the rot in the justice system and what we can do about it. Join host, Hunter Parnell, as he interviews top defense attorneys and criminal justice stakeholders from across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system. Like so many of

government politics

All Episodes

01:09:36

465 | The Fines and Fees Justice Center's Campaigns...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/04/09

Today, Hunter was joined by two amazing guests from the Fines and Fees Justice Center, Dylan Hayre and Emily King. They joined the show to discuss incredible campaigns in Arizona, North Dakota, and Oklahoma that have started to eliminate the fines and fees that keep people trapped in debt for decades. Guest: Dylan Hayre, National Advocacy and Campaign Director, Fines and Fees Justice Center Emily King, Senior Advocacy and Campaign Specialist, Fines and Fees Justice Center Resources:

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56:04

464 | The Public Defender Hoping to Bring a New...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/04/08

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Vichal Kumar. On previous episodes, Vichal joined to discuss the incredible work he has accomplished with Partners for Justice. Today, he joins the show to discuss how the lessons he has learned as a line PD and with PFJ are driving him to run for Congress in New York's 7th Congressional District. Guest: Vichal Kumar, Candidate for New York's 7th Congressional District Resources: Learn More About His Campaign Here https://www.kumar4ny.com/

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01:09:46

463 | How the Defenders Association of Philadelphia...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/04/07

Today, Hunter was joined by Lilah Thompson and Maria Thomson from the Defenders Association of Philadelphia. These two work in the office's immigration unit, and they joined the show to detail how their office has stepped up to resist Trump's plans for mass deportation. Guest: Lilah Thompson, Chief of the Immigration Unit, Defenders Association of Philadelphia Maria Thomson, Immigration Attorney, Defenders Association of Philadelphia Resources: Defenders Association of

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01:01:51

462 | How Restorative Justice Could Transform What...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/04/02

Today, Hunter was joined by Amanda Carrasco a restorative justice advocate and author of Becoming the Brave One. Throughout her life, Amanda has dealt with tremendous trauma from surviving multiple sexual assaults and the murder of her close family friends. Despite those experiences, Amanda is a champion for different approaches to the criminal legal system in the form of restorative justice practices. Guest: Amanda Carrasco, Author and Advocate for Restorative Justice Practices

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59:01

461 | How to Empower Social Workers in Public...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/03/30

Today, Hunter was joined by Kay Edwards from the Far West Texas Regional Public Defender Office. There, Kay is the Mental Health Supervisor and she joins the show to discuss how her office has implemented a new organizational structure and way of thinking that empowers social workers to take more active roles in cases. Guest: Kay Edwards, Mental Health Supervisor, Far West Texas Public Defender Resources: NAPD Social Workers https://publicdefenders.us/audiences/social-worker/

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01:07:19

460 | How California's Failure to Fund Public Defense...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/03/26

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Tracie Olson the Chief Public Defender of the Yolo County Public Defender Office. Tracie joins to discuss the recent Deason Center report about the dramatic underfunding of Public Defense in California and the impacts of Prop 36 on her community. Guest: Tracie Olson, Chief Public Defender, Yolo County, California Resources: Read the Report Here https://scholar.smu.edu/deasoncenter/19/ Learn More About Yolo County Public Defense

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01:05:27

459 | What will Happen if Washington State does not...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/03/25

Today, Hunter was joined by Matt Sanders, Director of King County's Department of Public Defense. Matt joins to discuss Washington's millionaire tax and the impact Public Defense will face because of the tax revenue no longer going to fund Public Defense. Guest: Matt Sanders, Director, King County Department of Public Defense, Washington Resources: Learn more about DPD here https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dpd Contact Hunter Parnell:

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01:07:49

458 | How Public Defense is Sold to the Lowest Bidder...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/03/24

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Anat Rubin, an Investigative Journalist with Cal Matters. This time, Anat joins to discuss her reporting about the "Wal-Mart" of Public Defense. Coined decades ago, these private law firms who accept contracts to provide Public Defender services to rural parts of California have long faced scrutiny for their cost cutting practices. Guest: Anat Rubin, Investigative Journalist, Cal Matters Resources: Read Anat's Reporting Here

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01:00:29

457 | How Washington Built One of the Best Family...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/03/19

Today, Hunter was joined by two members of Washington's Family Defense Team, Brett Ballew and Tonia McClanahan. As we did on Tuesday, the show explores the ways Public Defense can and should expand to include family defense. This time, Hunter and his guests dive into a state that has been leading the way in this expansion. Guest: Brett Ballew, Supervising Attorney, Public Defense Parent Representation Program, Washington Office of Public Defense Tonia McClanahana, Parent Voice Advocacy

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01:00:27

456 | How Public Defenders can Help Stop Family...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/03/17

Today, Hunter was joined by Mary Anne Mendenhall, the Director of Family Defense Initiatives with Partners for Justice. On previous episodes, Hunter has explored the dire need for Public Defense to expand its services to include family defenders. Today, Mary Anne joins to provide a deep dive into the family separation industrial complex and how to better integrate family defenders into Public Defender offices. Guest: Mary Anne Mendenhall, Director, Family Defense Initiatives, Partners for Justice

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59:09

455 | What Can be Done to Slow the Spread of Mass...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/03/12

Today, Hunter was joined by Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst with the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. With more than 20 years of experience, Jay brings a comprehensive understanding of why and how mass surveillance technology is spreading across America. Guest: Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst, ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project Resources: Check out Jay's Work and the Free Future Blog https://www.aclu.org/bio/jay-stanley

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01:07:05

454 | The Public Defender Running to get Ritchie...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/03/11

Today, Hunter was joined by Dalourny Nemorin, a public defender with the Legal Aid Society and candidate for NY's 15th Congressional District. Dalourny joins the show to discuss her candidacy, why she is running, and how her background as a public defender makes her the perfect fit to represent the South Bronx in Congress. Guest: Dalourny Nemorin, Public Defender and Candidate for New York's 15th Congressional District, Legal Aid Society Resources: Check out Dalourny's Campaign Here:

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01:03:00

453 | How America's Mass Surveillance State is Making...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/03/10

Today, Hunter was joined by Professor Andrew Ferguson to discuss his new book, Your Data will be Used Against You. In it, Professor Ferguson discusses how and why mass surveillance is exploding in the United States and the dangers that expansion poses towards all those that value the right to privacy. Guest: Andrew Ferguson, Professor of Law, George Washington University School of Law Resources: Pick up a Copy of the Book Today

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01:08:05

452 | With a Budget Shortfall Looming, What Comes...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/03/05

Today, Hunter was joined by Maine's Frayla Tarpinian, the new Executive Director of Maine's Commission on Public Defense Services. Guest: Frayla Tarpinian, Executive Director, Maine Commission on Public Defense Resources: Website https://www.maine.gov/pds/ Coverage of the Shortfall https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/02/04/facing-imminent-13m-shortfall-committee-advances-bill-to-shore-up-public-defense-services/

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01:18:08

451 | How the Tough on Crime Lobby Influences...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/03/03

Today, Hunter was joined by Kyle Giddings and Rebecca Wallace to discuss how tough on crime types shape Colorado criminal justice policy. From the outside looking in, one could be forgiven for thinking that Colorado is one of the most progressive states in the country. After all, it was one of the few places in America that broke towards the left in the 2024 election. Despite the complete control of the government by the Democratic party, Colorado still pursues tough on crime policies. Today,

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01:03:42

450 | How Has New York's Bail Reform Laws Impacted...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/02/26

Today, Hunter was joined by René Ropac of the Data Collaborative for Justice to discuss their newest report on the impacts, or lack thereof, of New York's bail reforms. Guest: René Ropac, Senior Research Associate, Data Collaborative for Justice Resources: Read the Report https://datacollaborativeforjustice.org/work/bail-reform/examining-the-impact-of-eliminating-bail-on-recidivism-in-the-new-york-city-suburbs-and-upstate-regions-a-difference-in-differences-study/ Contact Rene

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01:01:51

449 | How the People of Minneapolis Organized to...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/02/25

Today, Hunter was joined by three people, Maggie Bott, Brandon Garcia, and Bob Kolstad, who have lived through the federal occupation of Minneapolis. They join the show to detail what ICE, CBP, and DHS have been doing in the city and how the city has organized and resisted those efforts. Guest: Brandon Garcia, Policy Aide to City Council President Elliot Page, Minneapolis, Minnesota Maggie Bott, Public Defender, Hennepin County, Minnesota Bob Kolstad, Public Defender, Hennepin County,

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01:02:12

448 | How the History of the New York Police...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/02/24

Today, Hunter spoke with Matthew Guariglia, a historian, scholar, and author of the book Police and the Empire City: Race and the Origins of Modern Policing in New York. In it, Matthew walks the read through the early history of the New York Police Department. By learning this history, the hope is that people understand what some of the essential characteristics of American policing are. Hopefully by understanding the essential characteristics, people can fully understand how and why police operate

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01:13:11

447 | Why did an Oregon Public Defender Sue the...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/02/18

Today, Hunter spoke w/Stacey Lowe, Executive Director of the Southwest Oregon Public Defender Services. They discussed why Stacey joined Shannon Wilson's lawsuit challenging the new contract conditions put in place by the Oregon Public Defense Commission. Guest: Stacey Lowe, Executive Director, Southwest Oregon Public Defender Services Resources: SWOPDS https://swopds.org/ Contact Stacey slowe@swopds.org Read More About the Suit

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01:09:57

446 | Why did an Oregon Public Defender Sue the...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/02/17

Today, Hunter spoke w/Shannon Wilson and Stephen Hanlon. Last fall, Shannon, the Executive Director of the Marion County Public Defender, filed a lawsuit against the Oregon Public Defense Commission to challenge new requirements in Oregon Public Defender contracts. Now, Shannon and Stephen join the show to explain why and what comes next for Oregon Public Defense. Guest: Shannon Wilson, Executive Director, Marion County Public Defender, Oregon Stephen Hanlon, Public Interest Lawyer

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